WASHINGTON, DC – Following yesterday’s hearing in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee with United States Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen, Rep. Maloney requested a written response from Chief Christiansen on how the USFS will change and make better its system for handling workplace sexual assault and harassment.

In her letter, the Congresswoman points out that Shannon Reed was fired in retaliation to lodging a complaint of sexual harassment. The Congresswoman therefore requested in her letter to Chief Christiansen that “as you work to correct these problems at the US Forest Service, I strongly urge you to consider restoring Ms. Reed’s employment, if that is what she desires. It was made clear at the hearing today that Ms. Reed was forced out of her position unjustly and prematurely. Furthermore, having been a victim of both sexual harassment and the dysfunctional process after the fact, Ms. Reed is in a unique position to prevent other women from suffering the same abuse to which she was subjected.”

WASHINGTON, DC – Following yesterday’s hearing in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee with United States Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen, Rep. Maloney requested a written response from Chief Christiansen on how the USFS will change and make better its system for handling workplace sexual assault and harassment.

In her letter, the Congresswoman points out that Shannon Reed was fired in retaliation to lodging a complaint of sexual harassment. The Congresswoman therefore requested in her letter to Chief Christiansen that “as you work to correct these problems at the US Forest Service, I strongly urge you to consider restoring Ms. Reed’s employment, if that is what she desires. It was made clear at the hearing today that Ms. Reed was forced out of her position unjustly and prematurely. Furthermore, having been a victim of both sexual harassment and the dysfunctional process after the fact, Ms. Reed is in a unique position to prevent other women from suffering the same abuse to which she was subjected.”

Thank you for your testimony before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee today about the systemic mistreatment of women at the U.S. Forest Service. As this hearing made clear, for many women, the US Forest Service has not been a safe place to work. Women have been sexually assaulted by their coworkers or superiors, and then retaliated against for reporting the assault. That is intolerable, and even more so because that it is happening at a federal agency. It is incumbent upon you to rectify this situation as quickly as possible.

At the hearing, you committed to providing me a written response when asked for your thoughts about the concerns raised by Ms. Reed and more than 50 other women in a letter to you dated Nov 9, 2018. A copy of that letter is enclosed. The letter details horrific allegations of harassment, retaliation and injustice at the US Forest Service and I am eager to see your response to it.

Additionally, as you work to correct these problems at the US Forest Service, I strongly urge you to consider restoring Ms. Reed’s employment, if that is what she desires. It was made clear at the hearing today that Ms. Reed was forced out of her position unjustly and prematurely. Furthermore, having been a victim of both sexual harassment and the dysfunctional process after the fact, Ms. Reed is in a unique position to prevent other women from suffering the same abuse to which she was subjected.

Whistleblower’s is presented in coordination with Marcel Reid and the Annual Whistleblower’s Summit in Washington D.C., July 30 & 31, 2018. The public is cordially invited.

We will be discussing the proposed reorganization of the USDA office of general council?…what will it mean for the civil rights and administration processes? The USDA continues to protect abusive managers at taxpayer expense.

The Forest Service alone is still riddled with sexual abuse claims and is still covering them up along with other charges of discrimination and abuses. Lesa Donnelly and Shannon Reed will speak about Shannon’s own experience of abuse within this rogue organization. Even after national exposure in a five part series on PBS, things remain the same.

Ron Cotton and Lawrence Lucas will discuss the recent news release by Corey Lea pertaining to the coming vote for the Gubernatorial office in Georgia. “The Black Farmers, who are the most affected by the continuous discrimination of The USDA, will hurriedly point at the Black Congressional Caucus and how they voted against the Black Farmers more than a decade ago, to keep the Republicans from getting credit for saving the Black Farmers. On the other hand, Ms. Abrams is an attorney, she will probably quickly take the route of and road less traveled and say something like- “When I am the Governor of Georgia, I will sue the USDA on behalf of the Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Small Farmers alike, to keep Georgia Farmers competitive in a global market. It’s our Georgia and not Georgia for a chosen few.”